The route may have been up in the air until the last minute but the hearts of the
mushers were always in the right place...

(Grand Marais, MN March 28, 2007) The First Annual Mush for a Cure was a great
success. One of the race organizers, Mary Black held true to her
words when she repeatedly said, "We'll mush for a cure on Saturday, it may be with 6
dogs or 2 dogs and it won't be with our best sleds, but we will mush." The conditions
for mushing weren't perfect, the number of participants wasn't in the double digits, but
the enthusiasm for raising awareness and money for breast cancer was overwhelming. There
were only four women who participated this year but they were able to raise over $2500.00
for the first annual Mush for a Cure.

Mother Nature did her best to preserve the trails for Saturday's Mush for a Cure. The
planned trail, was supposed to start from Voyageur Canoe Outfitters at the end of the
Gunflint Trail and run to Poplar Creek B & B but the lack of snow on the north end of
the trail and the icy conditions of Poplar Lake cut the course short. The shortened course
started at Round Lake Road and ended at the Poplar Lake boat landing, about a 20 mile
trip. There were patches of bare ground but overall there was enough snow to make for a
great ride.

Mush for a Cure was the idea of Mary Black of Black Magic Kennels. She was
inspired to raise money for breast cancer by Sue Prom's Pink Paddles business where a
portion of the proceeds are donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Sue and her
husband Mike also own Voyageur Canoe
Outfitters at the end of the Gunflint Trail. Together the Blacks and Proms organized
and sponsored this year's Mush for a Cure Event. Plans are in motion to continue to raise
money and awareness for breast cancer and on the top of the list is the 2nd Annual Mush
for a Cure on the Gunflint Trail.

Mushers on the trail in the photo from front to back: Mary Black, Carol King and Mary Manning.
Michelle Ethun was unable to do the run due to family commitments,
but met us at the finish line with her pledges in